Conclusion - Cons

Full size sensor means that edge lens aberrations are now more visible
than APS-size sensor

Maximum sensitivity of ISO 1250 may be limiting to some photographers

JPEG files are not tagged with color profile when Adobe RGB color
matrix is selected

Slow RAW conversion, Canon File Viewer Utility feels lethargic

Menu system can at first be frustrating

There should be a custom function to allow settings to be changed
with one hand

No GPS / serial connection

No video out

* Although at the same print size noise will be less visible due to the
larger image size of the 1Ds

Overall conclusion

The EOS-1D broke several barriers, it was the first digital
SLR with full environmental seals (and apart from the 1Ds still is), it
was also the first digital SLR to deliver that huge 8 frames per second
shooting speed (and still is). Canon's "1" SLR's have always
represented the most prestigious and highest quality of their time and
the EOS-1Ds certainly lives up to that billing, it also breaks barriers,
it's the first released digital SLR with double figure effective
pixel count and it's also one of the first released digital SLR's
with a full 35 mm size sensor (Contax's N Digital has been in and out
of release status).

The full size sensor means several things, firstly that
the field of view of a lens used on the EOS-1Ds is identical to the same
lens used on a 35 mm film SLR. This means that lenses are being used as
designed, and that all those super wide angle lenses really can come into
their own.

The full size sensor also means a big viewfinder view,
in this respect the 1Ds is the most pleasant and exciting digital SLR
I've shot with, when I first picked up the 1Ds and looked through the
viewfinder I couldn't get over how much you can see and what a huge difference
this makes to framing and focusing, to "seeing" the shot. This
is so hard to describe but trust me when I say your first look through
that viewfinder will be a revelation.

Canon's full size CMOS sensor is certainly something
that their R&D department should be proud of, it's clearly cutting
edge technology to be able to firstly (a) have a full 35 mm size sensor
which is economic enough to produce, (b) deliver a huge pixel count across
that large frame size and (c) have enough bandwidth and processing power
to shoot at up to three frames per second. On top of all that image quality
is simply superb, great resolution, low noise and the excellent color
response that we've come to expect from Canon Digital SLR's.

What more can I say? I love this camera, it's addictive,
you get the first hit when you pick it up, look through the viewfinder
and press that shutter release, it's one of the most effective and rewarding
photographic tools you can use. The next hit comes when you see the images
on a monitor (and prints look even better still). Simply the best (at
the time of writing this review).

Highly Recommended

So which one should I buy? A question I
get asked several times a day, and I wouldn't like to say. In a new addition
to my reviews (after the amount of feedback I normally get) I've added
a link to a specific forum in which you can discuss the review or ask
me specific questions which I've not answered in these pages.

Comments

I have just got one for myself 2 weeks back, and I just love it. It came with a 50mm 1.8. I am going to use this combination only for some time. The resolving power is quite amazing. I also bought a speedlite 430EXII 2 days back to use with it. They work well with each other, and give good pictures.

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